Fight Lover's Forum 02.04 09: Answering Mail and Giving Out Advice
Posted by A. Shakoor on 02.04.2010
This week, your humble writer is answering mail from a few fans around the world. These are actual letters, from actual readers.
This week in Fight Lover's Forum, I'm answering some "mail" and doling out advice to a few readers and fans around the world. Let's get to it.
Dear Ali,
It looks like Shane Mosley has agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather on May 1st in Vegas. More importantly, Shane Mosley has agreed to take random blood tests. I refused to take random blood tests, and my reputation it taking a beating in the media, and on the message boards. What should I do?
Manny- Manila, Phillippines
Dear Manny,
Don't do or say anything else about blood tests. Just concentrate on your March 13th fight against Joshua Clottey; a tough opponent. The Mayweathers and Golden Boy have kind of backed themselves in a corner after the fiasco involving negotiations with you. If they don't demand blood tests of Shane Mosley–a known PED user-- they'd look hypocritical and scared of you. Mosley will take the blood tests because he's an admitted doper, and he's desperate for a major fight. Also, as a Golden Boy partner, he'll back up Richard, Oscar, and Mayweather on this issue to save face.
Plus, in your case, it's a pride thing. The whole PED garbage came from jealous-based rumors and baseless allegations, so your pride prevented much compromise on the issue. Oscar pushed things over the edge by saying your punches felt like those of the roided up Fernando Vargas, who tested positive for PEDs after their bout. You were the victim of a smear campaign. Move on and just sue.
Ignore those who call you a cheater for standing your ground. Those people don't understand concepts like burdens of proof and simple logic. Just let it go. However, one thing you cannot do is allow Antonio Margarito to fight on your undercard. You're suspected by many as a cheater, and Margarito is one of the most notorious and vile cheaters in recent boxing history. You shouldn't be associated with that dirtbag in any fashion. I know you share a promoter, but you don't want your name on the marquee with him. You don't want him and his cheating ways associated with you, as you rebuild your reputation. I will not order a pay per view with Margarito on the card, and I know of others who feel the same way. Avoid this Margarito situation.
One more word of advice, if you ever do try to negotiate a fight with Golden Boy down the road, demand that they submit to lie detector tests, and make them reveal all emails, text messages, and voicemail messages relating to fights they've promoted in 2009 and 2010. Following the twisted logic of your detractors, Golden Boy would be guilty of corruption, if they didn't submit to your requests. If you play with Golden Boy again, play dirty.
Which reminds me....
Ali,
Seriously, WTF happened to us???!!!
Paulie Malignaggi, Ali Funeka, and Gabriel Campllo-Confused
I wish I could tell you gentleman-and Paulie, but I just don't have the answers. There certainly does seem to be shady goings ons afoot. Golden Boy Promotions has been involved with three of the most amazingly shady and corrupt scorecards of the past 12 months. In Diaz v. Malignaggi I and Guzman v. Funeka, the fighter Golden Boy promoted received the benefit of the absurd scoring. In the most recent robbery where Beibut Shumenov received a gift decision against you Mr. Campillo, Golden Boy co-promoted the card but neither fighter, so we can't tell how they benefitted from the decision-yet. Our own Ryan Bates wrote about Golden Boy's shenanigans back on the 7th of this past December. He proposed ways for Golden Boy to improve their image in 2010. They aren't off to a good start. Hopefully, fans and we in the media will realize that coincidences don't exist, and a spotlight will be shown on all future Golden Boy promoted events. And that spotlight needs to search for corruption.
Dearest Ali,
If I defeat the WBA/Recognized Welterweight Champion, Shane Mosley, cleanly and without controversy... will I get full credit from you? I just want to establish it now so when the inevitable "Shane was too old" remarks start coming out I have something to fall back on.
Floyd- Las Vegas, NV.
Dearest Floyd,
The facts are the facts about Shane's age, blows received, layoff, and recent defeat of a guy who just got revealed as a cheater minutes before the start of the fight (Ya think, criminal/career implications may have distracted Margarito?). Plus, if the Shane that fought Cotto 2 years ago shows up on May 1st, you'll embarrass him. I'm saying all this before the fight..
Having said all that, none of that is your fault, and you get full credit for beating the recognized champ/WBA champ/elite legend in any LEGITIMATE fashion. It doesn't have to be convincing or dominant from my standpoint. I'll take 114-113, as long as the scores are objectively fair. We all know the difference between reasonable minds differing and outright robberies. If you win a fair decision, I won't make any excuses, and I'll give you full credit for reclaiming your thrown atop the welterweight division. The Mosley fight is the best fight available for you, and I'll give you full props if you go through with it, and win a fair decision. Considering Golden Boy's involvement, and the fact that Oscar can make more money off of you than he can off of his business partner, Shane Mosley, let's hope the fans get a fair result May 1rst.. I'm sure you agree.
Mr. Shakoor,
I can't seem to get anybody interested in my rematch with Roy Jones Jr. What gives?
Bernard- Philly, PA
Ah, Mr. Hopkins,
Seriously Bernard, I've been a fan and apologist for you for many years, but even I have trouble defending this fight. First of all, as the first fight showed us, the two styles simply don't make for compelling action. You seem to excel against aggressors, and so does Roy. Or I should say, so DID Roy. This fight may have been exciting earlier last decade when you were becoming a star, and Roy still was one. Now your star is fading, and Roy is completely shot. This fight should have been killed two months ago when Danny Green humiliated Jones Jr in Australia. Now, I don't know how you can convince people to care about this fight at all. Showing it on pay per view is just insulting, and I refuse to order it.
I wish you would just retire. But if you insist on fighting, why not take on a challenge like Tomasz Adamek for the Ring Magazine cruiserweight title? You could also answer any questions at 175 by fighting Chad Dawson. I understand that you've taken on major challenges throughout your career, and are now just looking for an easy payday and a little revenge, but just don't expect people to care, or want to watch.
You have however successfully promoted fights in the past with bizarre or offensive means: you threw down the Puerto Rican Flag before the Trinidad fight, tried to initiate a brawl against Winky Wright, and lamely tried to make your fight against Joe Calzaghe into a mini race war. But other than sleeping with Roy's woman, threatening his life, or kidnaping his beloved chickens, I don't know what you could do to make people care about this fight. You've brought this on yourself. Don't worry about losing though, because Roy is finished. Also, your company Golden Boy is involved. They'll make sure things turn out okay for you.
That's all the mail I have time to answer this week. Letters from Juanma in Puerto Rico, Erik in Mexico , and others will appear in a future edition. Seeya, and enjoy this weekend's fights.
